Man sentenced for using fake siren to pull over innocent drivers in Finchley

Mohammed Ghalayini, of Budd Close, Finchley, was sentenced yesterday after pleading guilty at Hendon Magistrates’ Court to taking a vehicle without consent, using a vehicle without insurance and falsely suggesting you were a police officer.

On May 14 at 5.30pm the car mechanic collected a car that he said he was taking away for repair and servicing.

Instead of taking it to the garage, he picked up two friends and went to a shisha bar where they smoked flavoured tobacco.

Ghalayini then took his friends for a drive around the Finchley area.

While abroad he had bought a device that had a police siren that attached to the roof of a car and would cause the car’s headlights to flash.

Ghalayini “for a laugh” fitted the device to the car and pulled over two members of the public.

One was being driven along the High Road in Whetstone at about 2am.

The woman driving heard the siren and pulled over but became suspicious of the men so drove away and called the police to report what had happened.

Half and hour later a patrolling police car saw the vehicle near Tally Ho Corner and Ghalayini was arrested and the siren was seized.

Ghalayini admitted he was using the car illegally, using the police siren to stop vehicles, and he stated he regretted his actions.

At court Ghalayini had his licence endorsed with eight penalty points, had an electronic curfew for two months from 8pm to 7am and has been required to spend 24 hours at an attendance centre and pay £85 in costs.

Officer in the case, PC Mo Barik, said: “Matters like this are never a joke. It is important that people can always feel confident they are dealing with bona fide police officers. 

“Ghalayini fully deserves the sentence he has received. He has knowingly, foolishly and blatantly broken the law. 

“His action frightened a lone woman driver and betrayed the trust of the person who wanted his car repaired, not involved in criminality.”